Mobile elevator conveyor

Abstract

A mobile elevator conveyor, comprising a main support structure (10) mounted on tracks (11), for mobility along an upper level (14) when in use, an elevating conveyor (13) supported on a boom (12) adapted to be extended from a retracted position within the main frame to an extended position outwardly of said main frame. The boom supporting the conveyor is formed from a plurality of boom segments (22), and is adapted, during extension and retraction, to pass over an outwardly and downwardly curving guide frame (29) mounted on said main support structure. The boom segments are hingedly connected at their lower edges such that the boom structure bends downwardly along its bottom chord at the hinges (23) between the boom segments as it moves over the guide frame, and down to a lower level (15). The interaction of the boom segments is such that bending in the opposite direction is resisted so as to form a rigid boom structure. A collecting conveyor (38) extends along the length of the main support structure and receives material from said elevating conveyor and conveys it to a discharge point.

We claim: 
     
       1. A mobile elevator conveyor, comprising a main support structure mounted on ground engaging means for mobility along an upper level when in use, elevating conveyor means supported on a boom structure and extendable from a retracted position within said main support structure to an extended position extending downwardly away from said main support structure to a lower level, wherein the boom structure supporting the elevating conveyor means is formed from a plurality of boom segments hingedly connected at lower edges such that, at said main support structure, the boom structure bends downwardly along a bottom chord at the hinges between the boom segments, and wherein adjacent sides of said boom segments engage each other when pivoted about said hinges in a direction opposite to the downward bending of said boom structure over the remainder of the length of said boom structure extending to said lower level and such as to resist bending of said remainder of said extended length of boom structure in said opposite direction. 
     
     
       2. A mobile elevator conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said boom structure during extension and retraction passes over an outwardly and downwardly curving guide frame mounted on said main support structure. 
     
     
       3. A mobile elevator conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main support structure carries a collecting conveyor extending along its length and adapted to receive material from said elevating conveying means, at least whilst said elevating conveyor means is in said extended position, and so as to convey material to a discharge point from said mobile elevator conveyor. 
     
     
       4. A mobile elevator conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elevating conveyor means and its supporting boom structure is extended and retracted by a winch operated pulley system extending between said main support structure and said boom structure. 
     
     
       5. A mobile elevator conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein such elevating conveyor means and its supporting boom structure is adapted to be raised and lowered in its extended position to alter its downward inclination. 
     
     
       6. A mobile elevator conveyor as claimed in claim 5, wherein elevation means are provided to raise and lower said elevating conveyor means and its supporting structure and thereby adjust an angle of inclination of said conveyor means and supporting structure. 
     
     
       7. A mobile elevator conveyor as claimed in claim 6, wherein said elevating conveyor means and its supporting structure are raised and lowered by a winch operated pulley system coupled to said main support structure. 
     
     
       8. A mobile elevator conveyor as claimed in claim 6, wherein extension means are provided to extend said conveyor means and its supporting boom structure to a downwardly inclined position, and to retract them from that position, wherein said elevation means and said extension means are coupled to a common control wherein said angle of inclination and the amount of extension and retraction are controlled in unison. 
     
     
       9. A mobile elevator conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main support structure is supported on said ground engaging means, by means which allow said main support structure to slew relative thereto and by means to raise and lower said main support structure. 
     
     
       10. A mobile elevator conveyor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said main support structure carries a collecting conveyor extending along its length and adapted to receive material from said elevator conveying means, at least whilst said elevating conveyor means is in said extended position, and so to convey material to a discharge point from said mobile elevator conveyor. 
     
     
       11. A mobile elevator conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main support structure carries a collecting conveyor extending along its length and adapted to receive material from said elevating conveyor means, at least whilst said elevating conveyor means is in said extended position, and so as to convey material to a discharge point from said mobile elevator conveyor. 
     
     
       12. A mobile elevator conveyor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said elevating conveyor means and its supporting boom structure is extended and retracted by a winch operated pulley system extending between said main support structure and said boom structure. 
     
     
       13. A mobile elevator conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elevating conveyor means and its supporting boom structure is extended and retracted by a winch operated pulley system extending between said main support structure and said boom structure. 
     
     
       14. A mobile elevator conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein such elevating conveyor means and its supporting boom structure is adapted to be raised and lowered in its extended position to alter its downward inclination. 
     
     
       15. A mobile elevator conveyor as claimed in claim 2, wherein such elevating conveyor means and its supporting boom structure is adapted to be raised and lowered in its extended position to alter its downward inclination. 
     
     
       16. A mobile elevator conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main support structure is supported on said tracks, wheels or the like, by means which allow it to slew relative thereto and by means to raise and lower said support structure. 
     
     
       17. A mobile elevator conveyor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said main support structure is supported on said tracks, wheels or the like, by means which allow it to slew relative thereto and by means to raise and lower said support structure.